FUNAAB Vice-Chancellor Urges Digital Transformation in Agriculture at 59th ASN Conference

The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Professor Babatunde Kehinde, has called for deliberate and inclusive adoption of digital technologies to drive sustainable transformation in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

Speaking as Keynote Speaker at the opening of the 59th Annual Hybrid Conference and General Business Meeting of the Agricultural Society of Nigeria (ASN), held on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Abia State, Professor Kehinde stressed that aligning traditional farming with modern technology is essential for achieving food security and national growth.

The event, themed “Advancing Innovative Technologies, Skills and the Digital Economy for Livelihood Diversification in Agriculture,” was jointly organised by MOUAU and the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), drawing participants from academia, government, and the private sector.

Professor Kehinde, a renowned Plant Breeder and Geneticist, described agriculture as the backbone of rural Nigeria and the engine of food security. He, however, lamented that the sector’s productivity remains low due to weak mechanisation, poor access to credit, limited infrastructure, insecurity, and poor research-to-farm linkages.

He disclosed that between 2020 and 2024, Nigeria imported ₦10.96 trillion worth of agricultural goods while exporting ₦7.05 trillion — a situation he described as “unsustainable.”

To reverse this trend, he proposed a four-pillar framework focusing on:

• Innovation: Translating research into practical farm solutions using digital tools.
• Human Capital Development: Strengthening agricultural education and extension systems.
• Inclusive Technology Adoption: Promoting accessibility to digital and mechanised solutions.
• Institutional Synergy: Building stronger collaborations among government, academia, and industry.

Professor Kehinde noted that technology must be people-driven, stating, “No technology succeeds in isolation; it thrives on the capacity of those who use and sustain it.” He advocated rural broadband expansion, shared mechanisation models, drone service systems, agribusiness clusters, and venture funding for youth-led enterprises.

He envisioned a digitally empowered agricultural system where smallholder farmers use mobile applications, cooperative models, and sensors to improve yields, reduce losses, and access financial services. “The future of agriculture lies in merging tradition with innovation,” he concluded.

Representing the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator (Dr.) Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (CON), the Provost of the Federal Cooperative College, Oji River, Dr. Jude Obidiegwu, commended the ASN for promoting dialogue between science and practice.

The Vice-Chancellor of MOUAU, Professor Maduebibisi Iwe, and the Executive Director of NRCRI, Professor Chiedozie Egesi, both reaffirmed the importance of digital innovation in attracting youth to agriculture.

The highlight of the event was the conferment of Fellowship Awards on distinguished academics including Professor Iwe, Professor Lateef Sanni (NSPRI), Professor Jonathan Atungwu (FCAIB), and former ASUU President, Professor Victor Osodeke.

The week-long conference continues till October 25, 2025, providing a platform for policy dialogue, innovation, and national food security advancement.